The Seven Dwarfs Lost

By Rich Kozlovich 

The GOP had its second debate last night, and I guess the best description would be:

"Well, that was embarrassing and perhaps the most humiliating few hours in modern political history."

For those who've been following these Gong Shows a few things have come out about the character of the contestants.  Let's start with the least two objectionable characters, Scott and Burgum who neither hurt nor helped themselves, but does it really matter?  Neither are going anywhere.  So I keep wondering why they put themselves through these kind of humiliations.  

One writer thought Nikki Haley scored points.  I think she’s obnoxious, and unaccomplished, and Mark Levine agrees with me saying she "earned" the "obnoxious" title last night.   

Pence is lost beyond help, and no one is coming to his defense, and rightly so, he looked like a fool. Christie is the perfect Gong Show contestant, a nasty loon, and "continues to debase the debate." DeSantis actually didn’t do badly because he didn't say much. The more he talks the less he is, but in this case, there are those who feel he actually looked better than the rest. 

One writer said maybe we need more of these because these are the "preferred" candidates of the Republican establishment.  They looked ridiculous, the National Republican Committee looks ridiculous, the Republican Party leaders look ridiculous, and the rank and file Republicans are embarrassed. 

Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy will probably be two standing, but neither are likeable or unelectable, and I find that view is expressed a lot, and I think Nikki will be out before Vivek. However, being the last man standing in a field of loser clowns isn't much of an accomplishment. 

From all of this there are four definitive conclusions. 

1. There's no reason to have more of these Gong Show debates!   Since Trump won without even being there, why bother?  
2. Trump is the nominee, get over it, and avoid another humiliating show of character, or lack thereof.  
3. It's clear Trump's decision not to participate was a wise move. 
4. These aren't real debates. These "debate" formats are stupid, and the moderators are biased and/or incompetent.
   

There was the one thing that could have made any one of these candidates look outstanding,  and that would have been to put up their hand and ask that everyone act like well mannered civilized people and treat each other with respect allowing everyone to have their say.  

Then, when they ignored that, turned around and walk off the stage.  And when asked why; answering he came here to discuss the serious issues facing the nation, not be part of a clown show. None of them did that.  

Below are articles that deal with the issues that weren't properly dealt with, which are issues really on everyone's mind.  

Also, guess who California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) thinks won this debate?  Joe Biden.  Imagine that, but as stupid as that was, he did get something right.  He called them these seven dwarfs the JV team. 

GOP Debate Candidates Fail to Move the Needle on National Security - By Dave Patterson September 28, 2023 - Those hoping for a solid answer to Ukraine and the threats of China, Russia, and North Korea were bound for disappointment.  Seven Republicans vying for the US presidency took the stage....... took tough questions, but at the end of the night, they failed to move the needle on national security..........[on] what the candidates would do about Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.......... Dana Perino prefaced her question by invoking the venue’s namesake, saying, “President Reagan believed if you want to prevent a war, you better be prepared to fight one.” She explained the Republican Party was at odds over support for Ukraine. The price tag is $76 billion. “Is it in America’s interest to degrade Russia’s military for less than five percent of what we pay annually on defense, especially when there are no US soldiers in the fight?”.........

 GOP Debate Brings an Inevitable Conclusion - By Mark Angelides September 28, 2023 - The shadow of Trump looms large. Republican presidential hopefuls took to the stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, last night to sell their brands to the American public. During the September 27 debate, seven contenders answered questions, avoided questions, and attacked opponents in an effort to stand out from the crowd and, ultimately, free themselves of the shadow of former President Donald Trump, who remains more than 40 points ahead of the field........ while many of the questions throughout the event were certainly topical, they were not, perhaps, the questions that most matter to Republican voters.............Burgum surprises, Pence fades, and Christie name calls.....